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Citrus popular among export buyers

California and Arizona citrus items are popular commodities around the globe.

In California alone, 35% of the state’s citrus ends up in markets outside the U.S. and Canada, said Joel Nelsen, president of California Citrus Mutual, Exeter.

Booth Ranches LLC, Orange Cove, Calif., exports up to 30% of its citrus, primarily to South Korea and Japan, but also to other countries in the South Pacific and Middle East, said Neil Galone, vice president of sales and marketing.

There’s no one size that export buyers prefer.

“Export customers in different areas like different sizes, so they tend to take pretty much across the manifest, just as domestic customers do,” Galone said.

Overall, exports seem to be increasing, but numbers can go up and down from year to year based on availability of product and crop sizes in other international producing areas, he said.

California’s citrus has an exceptional reputation, he said. But there is no generic marketing organization that promotes the state’s citrus abroad.

“Everyone does their own,” Galone said.

Galone said he gains an understanding of the international market by visiting foreign marketplaces, seeing what customers’ issues are, checking out retail displays and talking to produce managers and learning about their specific needs.